Michigan's interests haven't been met in Washington with Sen. Debbie Stabenow at the helm, says Republican challenger Mike Bouchard.

Bouchard is a former small business owner, and he said when it comes to a failing economy that forces businesses to make tough financial decisions, he can "understand those issues very personally."

Bouchard formerly owned three businesses, including one in yogurt and ice cream food products, corporate consulting and security applications.

"Not only do I have a record of creating and supporting job creators, but conversely, my opponent has been incredibly hostile to job creators," he said. "Her whole campaign is built on this house of cards that it's the president's fault and China's fault, and ignores the reality that every other state is growing jobs. She wants to blame somebody else."

In 2000, Stabenow voted against bills that would exempt small businesses from hazardous waste cleanup programs, impose rigorous investigation standards for businesses charged with civil infractions and cap punitive damage costs for businesses at $250,000.

Bouchard said he already has written bills he plans to introduce in Congress if elected. One such bill, called the American Automakers and Autoworker Protection Act, would protect against and halt lawsuits targeting automakers and their suppliers if cars do not meet federal emission standards after they are sold.

Three of Bouchard's children will soon leave for college, and he worries about paying for their higher education, he said. Pell Grant and loan amounts need to be increased to help make public education more attainable, he said.

"I am going to do everything in my power to help families keep higher education affordable," Bouchard said.

The maximum Pell Grants for the 2006-07 award year are worth $4,050. But the amount granted per individual actually declined by about $100 in 2006, according to the nonprofit College Board.

Although Stabenow says she has a history of environmentally conscious legislation, more needs to be done to prevent evasive species from infesting the Great Lakes, Bouchard said.

Also, some national issues need to be picked up where Stabenow left off, Bouchard said.

When it comes to immigration, the country's borders "need people, they need physical barriers, and they need technology to protect us and America," he said. Michigan and other northern states are especially at risk because there are more opportunities to cross into the state than the southern border.

Stabenow voted in October for an additional 700 miles of fence to be built to that separate Mexico and the United States, and for more security measures to prevent immigration.

Undocumented immigrants already living in the state are getting benefits they don't deserve, Bouchard said.

"When all of you in college are worried and wondering if Social Security will be there for you after a lifetime of work, how can you possibly extend it to somebody who is breaking the law and, what's worse, committing identity theft to be in a position to get credit for that time?" he said.

The candidate said troops in Iraq should be moved out of the Middle East so Iraqi forces have to take command, he said.

"They have to work to create benchmarks and create a scenario that will leave us in a more safe state than a less safe state," he said.

"We have to expedite the process as much as possible to get our men and women out of there."